Ben Davies / Ben Davies / 09 December 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

The Notts County midfielder on the upcoming January transfer window, training ground bust-ups and Villa's abysmal record against Manchester United.

"One manager who I played under who did not mind a coming together was ex-England defender Mark Wright. If anything kicked off he would be annoyed if anyone got in the way. He used to say it shows that the players care which is very true and we would just carry on training around it as if nothing was happening."

It has been a relatively quiet week for me so far as the mid week fixtures have dried up as we get ready for the busy Christmas schedule. The weekend saw us travel to Hereford where we put in a very good performance to win the game 2-0 to put us two points off the automatic places.

Hereford United is not a place where I have too many good memories as a player but it was nice to go there and get a win. The Christmas period is a massive time for clubs and players as if you can come out the other side of Christmas in the league position you want to be in, you can really gain some momentum. Christmas is a really tough time for players in terms of physical demand as it is the busiest time with the games coming thick and fast. Sacrifices have to be made but it is all worth it if you get the right results.

Post-Christmas brings another big time in a club's season. The January transfer window. This is a very hectic time of the season as it sees plenty of players on the move. As a player I do not really take much notice of all the goings-on but I do like to see which player is going where and which club has strengthened in what areas. The last day of the window is always jam-packed with players moving clubs at the eleventh hour and there will always be a couple of transfers which really surprise me.

As always, we have been linked with a few players. This week according to a paper we are lining up a bid for Francis Jefferes of Sheffield Wednesday as well as a centre half from a Championship club. You never know how much truth is in these rumours that do the rounds, but as a player it always intrigues you as to who might be sitting next to you in the changing rooms in a couple of weeks.

Players always seem to know and find out who will be joining them at their clubs. I don't know how but it always comes out and someone knows who will be with them a good while in advance of the actual signing. It always keeps players on their toes with the talk of new players arriving as they will be desperate to keep their place in the side. Some players pay more attention to the transfer gossip than others but I have never been one to be overly concerned with it all, unless I am involved in it that is!

One player who might be on the move is a certain Stoke striker after the weekend saw the bust up between Tony Pulis and James Beattie leak out in to the press. People are trying to make a big deal out of it but things like this happen regularly behind the scenes at most football clubs. I have seen countless scraps in the dressing room, some better than others, in my time as a footballer. The game means so much to us all that people's temperaments do get tested. They never seem to last that long though as everyone piles in before it really gets going!

I have also seen the odd one happen on the training pitch. The funniest one I ever saw involved Michael Symes and Colin Murdoch when I was at Shrewsbury. No one even bothered to jump in as it looked more like a ballet dance than a fight. It lasted about five minutes and only stopped because our big mean centre half Colin broke a finger nail. Most managers punish the players who get involved. I remember it happened again when I was at Shrewsbury and the manager and players made the guilty pair stand up and sing in to each other's eyes in front of all the lads at a team meal as their punishment; but I have known fines and warnings to be given out.

One manager who I played under who did not mind a coming together was ex-England defender Mark Wright. If anything kicked off he would be annoyed if anyone got in the way. He used to say it shows that the players care which is very true and we would just carry on training around it as if nothing was happening.

That brings me on to this week's bet. It was reported a few weeks ago that Martin 'o' Neill and Nigel Reo-Coker had a similar bust up on the training ground. The Villa boss does not come across as someone you want to be messing with. He dropped Nigel from the squad and firmly pointed out who was the boss. Rule one, never mess with your manager.

Villa come up against Manchester United this weekend and although I am a huge Villa fan and my heart says a Villa win, they do have a horrific record against the reds. I have been to many a game where United have beaten the Villa and tend to enjoy playing against them. Sorry Villians but with Chelsea dropping points last weekend, United will have the wind in their sails and I can see there being a 0-0 draw at half time at [3.35] and then Manchester United wining at full-time at [1.53].

Tags: Ben Davies Notts County, football bets, football transfers, James Beattie bust-up, January transfer window, Notts County players